Muiden (Noord-Holland, Netherlands)

Muiden, a town in Holland on the Ijsselmeer west of Amsterdam, where in 1569 two Anabaptist martyrs, Thijs Joriaensz and Jan Claesz, were burned at the stake. The latter, a "young fellow of about twenty-five years," lived in the neighboring town of Weesp and moved to Muiden with Thijs Joriaensz to attend religious services. They were arrested and imprisoned in the castle near Muiden. Six months later they were taken to The Hague, and after another six months returned to Muiden, where they were put to death together. Elder Leenaert Bouwens had baptized 18 persons here in 1563-1565 and another five about 1568. This presupposes the existence of a congregation at Muiden, which is corroborated by the fact that Thijs Joriaensz went to Muiden "to serve the congregation of God with the Word." Very little is known about this congregation. It was still in existence in 1681, apparently united with that of Weesp, which was served by the ministers of the Amsterdam Lamist congregation. The membership was only 12 in 1675, and presumably died out soon after.

Braght, Thieleman J. van. The Bloody Theatre or Martyrs' Mirror of the Defenseless Christians Who Baptized Only upon Confession of Faith and Who Suffered and Died for the Testimony of Jesus Their Saviour . . . to the Year A.D. 1660. Scottdale, PA: Herald Press, 1951: 828. Available online at: http://www.homecomers.org/mirror/index.htm.